Ring



June 15, 1937. sc DT 2,083,925

RING

Filed Oct. 15, 1955 INVENTOR E {-7 /5 BY geoz ye gemid/ Patented June 15, 1937 UNITED $TATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

My invention relates generally to jewelry and particularly to rings and mountings thereof for interchangeably receiving jewels.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel mounting structurally characterized by a simple and substantial means which enables a jewel, such as a topaz, onyx, or other stone, to be secured in the mounting against accidental displacement while still permitting the jewel to be instantly and easily removed for the substitution of a. different jewel without requiring the use of a tool or skilled workmen.

An object is to provide a novel ring wherein the jewel mounting although designed to facilitate interchanging of the jewels or stones is entirely camouflaged in the ornamentation of the mounting which enhances rather than detracts from the appearance thereof.

Another object is to provide a novel ring of this character which is particularly simple and economic of manufacture and easily assembled by unskilled workers although having the finished appearance of a costly ring.

Another object is to provide a novel ring of 2 this character wherein the band element that encircles the finger may be made integral and in the various stock sizes, while the remaining elements of the ring are so arranged that they are adapted to be used with any one of the various sizes of band elements.

A further object is to provide a novel ring of this character wherein the band element may be made from a single unsplit stamping and wherein the other elements of the ring mounting likewise lend themselves to manufacture by die stamping.

A still further object is to provide a novel jewel mounting which may be used in conjunction with finger rings, lockets, bracelets, or the like, and

which mounting provides novel means for permitting quick and easy interchangeability of the jewel in the mounting.

The invention includes the parts and combinations of parts more particularly hereinafter pointed out in the detail description thereof and set forth in the claims.

Other objects, advantages and features of in vention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detail description, and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention in the form I at present deem preferable.

Figure l is a plan view of my ring as it appears when assembled.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof. Dotted lines indicate a released position of one of the stone retaining members.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view thereof, as seen looking from the right or left hand side of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of my ring analogous to Fig. 1 but with the jewel removed and the movable jewel retaining member in open position.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 5-5, Fig. 4, and likewise showing the jewel retaining member in its open position.

Fig. 6 is a partially sectional, partially elevational view taken on line 6-45, of Fig. 5, or transversely of the ring and mounting, and with the jewel omitted.

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 1--1, Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a composite bottom plan view of the two coacting jewel retaining members.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a jewel or stone shaped to fit the mounting.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the side rails or jewel retaining or guide members, and with ornamental inserts in place.

Fig. 11 is a composite perspective view of the coacting jewel retaining members.

Fig. 12 is a perspective View of one of the springs which coast with the jewel retaining members.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the mounting base.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the finger encircling band member or shank.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown my invention as associated with a finger ring, although it is to be understood that the invention is equally applicable to other articles of jewelry, such as lockets and bracelets.

A mounting base I, which may be stamped or otherwise formed from sheet material, is provided, and is preferably substantially rectangular in plan with upturned side walls 2, and end walls 3, and a bottom that is curved longitudinally concave as indicated by 4, so that it may conform to the finger of a wearer. Traversing the center of the base member is a rib from the under side so that on the a channel or recess 6 is formed.

In place of the conventional U-shaped ring shank, a complete, unbroken ring or finger encircling band member 1 is provided. Or, it may be stated, that the shoulders of the ring shank are provided with a cross bar or an integral bar 8, connecting the ends of said shoulders that are provided with upwardly directed members or under side 45 5 pressed upwardly shoulders 53. The shoulders 9 embrace the side walls 2 of the mounting base I, while the cross bar 8 fits in the channel 6. Midway between the lugs or shoulders 9, the connecting bar is provided with a small boss or pad 8a and the channel 6 is correspondingly shaped. Several registering holes a are provided through the boss 8a and rib 5 and which holes a receive rivets II! that rigidly secure the band member 7 and mounting base I together. If desired, the cross bar 8 may be first inserted in the channel 6 and the holes a drilled after such parts are so associated together, or the cross bar 8 and base I may be secured together as by brazing or soldering.

The interlocking relation of the shoulders 9, and boss 8a, with the sides of the mounting base I and channel 6, materially reduces any undue strain that may otherwise be placed on the rivets I when they are used to secure the parts together.

Inasmuch as the channel 6 conforms to the I boss 8a, the rib on the upper side of the mounting base is likewise provided with a central boss, the extremities of which define with the side walls 2, stirrups II which receive small fiat springs I2 adapted to lie along the side walls 2, the function of which will be hereinafter brought out.

A retaining guide member I3 in the form of a side rail extends along the upper edge of each side wall 2. The side rail is of greater width than the thickness of said side wall, and is mounted so as to overhang the inner side thereof. The upper side of the side rail is ornamented in any suitable manner and as shown has at its extremities, ornaments I4. Rivets I5, I5 extend downwardly through the ornaments I I, the ends of the retaining members or side rails and through th mounting base I, or the ornaments I4 may be secured to the side rails, and the side rails to the base in any other suitable manner as by soldering. The center of each member I3 may be notched as shown to receive one end I6 of a shoulder ornament H, the outer extremity of which preferably may extend downwardly over its associated shoulder 9 and is secured thereto by any suitable means, as by a rivet I8. An ornament I4 may be secured in any suitable manner, as by a rivet I8 to the side rail I3 so as to overlay and cover the end I6 of the ornament I'I.

Between the guide members I3 is mounted a fixed bezel frame I9 and a slidable bezel frame 20, best shown in Figs. 8 and 11. The frame member I9 is in the form of a flat rectangular loop except for one end which is upturned to form a bezel 2|. Adjacent the corners of the frame I9 bordering the bezel 2| and at its upper side, the frame is provided with small centering recesses or indentations 22 which, when the frame is in its proper position between the guide members I3, will aline with holes drilled to receive the rivets I5 which secure the fixed frame IS in position.

The other frame member is likewise in a form of a flat rectangular loop except that one side is upturned to form a bezel 23. The opposite side members or rails 20 of the frame member 20 adjacent to the bezel 23 are provided with notches 24 through which the rivets I5 extend, so that these rivets I5 form stops for limiting 'the outward sliding movement of the movable frame 20 and bezel 23.

The side members of the two frame members I9 and 20 are held against the underside of the overhanging margins of the guide members I3 by means of the flat springs I2, the middle portions of which fit in the stirrups II and the extremities of which are curved upwardly, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 12. The ends of the springs I2 bearing against the fixed frame preferably terminate in sharply upturned lugs or flanges 25 which respectively fit in notches 26 formed in the underside of the fixed frame member I9, said notches being best shown in Figs. 5 and 8 to anchor the flat springs against end movement. The movable frame member 20 is provided at its underside with notches 21 that are beveled in such a manner that engagement of the associated ends 28 of the fiat springs I2 therewith tend to urge the movable frame member 20 inwardly or towards the fixed frame member I9.

The frame members I9 and 20 are preferably formed from a common stamp-ing, that is, they are formed as one piece and later cut apart. This is facilitated by providing lugs 29 that are extensions of the side members 20' on the movable frame and which are initially joined to the 1 inner corners of the fixed frame I9.

A stone or jewel 30 is shaped to fit between the guide members I3 and is beveled at its ends as indicated by 3| with which the bezels 2I and 23 coact to hold the jewel in place. By moving the bezel 23 outwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, the jewel may be lifted or dropped from the mounting and replaced by another of different type, quality or character. When the movable frame is pushed inwardly until its bezel 23 holds the jewel, the beveled notches 21 register with the ends 28 of the springs I2 so that the springs I2 hold the bezel 23 in position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the side rails I3 retain the jewel 30 against lateral displacement and the upturned bezels 2I, 23 prevent longitudinal or endwise displacement of the jewel 30; also the guide bars or side rails I3 that overhang the side walls of the mounting base form with such base a track means or guide Way in which the frame carrying the movable bezel 23 is adapted to slide.

I claim:

1. In a jewel mounting; a mounting base h ing upturned side walls; guide means inwardly overhanging the side walls; a bezel frame slidably mounted between said mounting base and guide means and including an upturned movable bezel at one end of the mounting base; a yieldable means urging said bezel means; catch means including coacting elements associated with said bezel frame and yieldable means for normally urging said movable bezel toward its inner position; and a fixed bezel at the opposite end of the mounting base adapted to coact with the movable bezel to retain a jewel therebetween.

2. In a jewel mounting; a mounting base having upturned side walls; a pair of guide bars extending along the edge of each side wall and inwardly overhanging the same; securing means extending through said guide bars and passing inwardly of said side walls adjacent its ends; a fixed bezel disposed at one end of the mounting base and held by the securing means thereat; a movable bezel positioned at the opposite end of the mounting base; and a frame carrying the movable bezel and guided between said guide bars, said frame including stop means engageable with the securing means positioned at the frame against the guide" corresponding end of the mounting base when said movable bezel is moved away from said fixed bezel.

3. In a jewel mounting; a mounting base having upturned side walls; a pair of guide bars extending along the edge of each side wall and inwardly overhanging the same; securing means extending through said guide bars and passing inwardly of said side Walls adjacent its ends; a fixed bezel disposed at one end of the mounting base and held by the securing means thereatga movable bezel positioned at the opposite end of the mounting base; a frame carrying the movable bezel and guided between said guide bars, said frame including stop means engageable with the securing means positioned at the corresponding end of the mounting base when said movable bezel is moved away from said fixed bezel, and catch means associated with the movable bezel for normally urging the same in position to coact with the fixed bezel and secure a jewel therebetween.

4. In a jewel mountimg; a mounting base in-- cluding means along opposite sides for retaining a jewel against lateral displacement; a pair of complementary bezel frames having upturned bezels at the ends of the mounting base; means for fixedly securing one of said frames relative to the mounting base; other means supporting the other bezel frame in limited sliding relation with the mounting base; and means associated with the slidably mounted bezel frame to yieldingly maintain said slidable bezel frame in jewel maintaining position.

5. In a jewel mounting; an elongate mounting base having a finger conforming bottom side traversed by a channel; a finger encircling band having a side fitting said channel and interlocking therewith against axial displacement; and confronting configurations formed in the engaging portions of the band and base to interlock the base against, circumferential movement about the band; and securing means joining said base and band.

6. In a jewel mounting: a mounting base including upturned side walls; a finger encircling V band adapted to be secured across the mounting base and including shoulders embracing the side walls; a jewel retaining means extending along the edge of each side wall and connected to said base; and a shoulder ornament secured to each of said retaining means and to said band.

7. In a jewel mounting: a mounting base including side walls; a finger encircling band adapted to be secured across the mounting base and including shoulders embracing said side walls; a jewel retaining means extending along the edge of each side wall and secured to said base; and a shoulder ornament secured to said retaining means and to said band; a movable bezel frame at one end of said mounting base; track means formed by said retaining means and mounting base for guiding said movable bezel frame; a bezel on said movable bezel frame; and a fixed bezel disposed at the opposite end of the mounting base.

8. In a jewel mounting: a mounting base; means at the sides of said base for retaining a jewel against lateral displacement; a. fixed bezel at one end of said base; a movable bezel frame having a bezel disposed at the other end of said base; track means for guiding said movable bezel frame; spring means interposed between said base and said frame, one end of said spring means being anchored; and catch means incorporating said bezel frame and the other end of said spring means.

9. In a jewel mounting: mounting base; a pair of retaining bars extending along opposite sides of said base adapted to retain a jewel against lateral displacement; securing means joining said bars to said base; a fixed bezel at one end of said base including means retained by the securing means; a movable bezel at the other end of said base including stop means; and means to limit the movability in one direction of said movable bezel.

10. In a jewel mounting: a mounting base; a pair of retaining bars extending along opposite sides of said base adapted to retain a jewel against lateral displacement; joining said bars to said base; a fixed bezel at one end of said base including means retained by the securing means; a movable bezel at the other end of said base including stop means; means to limit the movability in one direction of said movable bezel; yieldable means interposed between the mounting base and movable bezel; and catch means incorporating said yieldable means and movable bezel for normally urging said bezel in a jewel maintaining position.

11. In a ring; a mounting base having a traversing channel and upturned side walls; a band member including laterally directed shoulders adapted to embrace the side walls of the mounting base, an integral connecting portion between said shoulders adapted to fit said channel, and a boss formed on said connecting portion; said base having a complementary recess for said boss formed in said channel; and means securing said base to said connecting portion.

GEORGE SCHMIDT.

securing means 

